How to Plan the Perfect Party – Part Two

November 30, 2016

SETTING UP THE PARTY

Your venue is booked, your catering company is bringing the food over, the decorations are ready to be installed, and the bartender is just starting to set up. You’re almost at the finish line, and you just have to put on the final few touches.

Food:

We mentioned food earlier, but that was in the context of budget. Now, let’s get into the food itself.

The type of food that you have will rely heavily on the format of your party. If you’re planning for your guests to walk around, mingle, do some dancing, and generally spend most of their time walking around, then an assortment of finger foods would probably be your best choice.

If you were looking at a more traditional dinner format, then you would obviously want to have more ‘full’ dinner options. Even here you have options to choose from; you can do buffet style, set course, or even some variation of table cooking!

Your choice of food should also take into account the guests that are coming. Try and pick a food that anyone can enjoy, and doesn’t require too much commitment. If you’re hosting a night in white dinner party, then perhaps ribs are not the best choice of food. You can even ask around to see what your guests would be interested in, and then build it from there. Consider what allergies your guest may have, and be sure to offer something for everyone. If you’re planning to have alcohol available, also supply non-alcoholic drinks.

A party should be a party for everyone, so be considerate of your guests.

Music:

The one thing that most sets the mood of your party is music, and as the host it is your job to make sure that the music is playing all night!

There’s a ton of different ways that you can do music for your party. Let’s start with the cheapest option (albeit, the least interesting). For this, all you have to do is bring a set of speakers, and play music off your phone. With music streaming services, iTunes, and downloadable music at your disposal, you can curate your own playlist, and just let the music play.

But what if you want something more interactive, and don’t want the hassle of having to be in charge of the music? Well, that’s what DJ’s for hire are for. Based on the kind of mood that you’re looking to set, you have two different options for DJ’s. You could go with the traditional DJ, the kind that you’ll usually see at corporate parties, family gatherings, or big birthday parties. These types of DJ’s are great for a more kid’s friendly atmosphere, but will still play all the most popular dance classics and upbeat music. If you’re not sure what your guests will like, this kind of DJ is always a safe bet.

For a night geared towards adults, you can hire a Specialty Club DJ, who comes prepared with all the hottest Disco, Latin, House, and Techno music. If you’re throwing a dance party, and you want your guests to get into the rhythm of the music, this could be your best choice. These are the kinds of DJ’s that you see at clubs, dance halls, and celebrity parties, so they’re sure to give you and your guests an amazing time.

To really seal the deal, take the time to invest in a powerful sound system, and perhaps some dance floor lighting. Lighting and decorations can do a great deal to set the mood of your party, with tools such as strobe lights, lasers, fog machines, or even a large screen to play synchronized video. Again, the types of lighting and decoration that you have depends solely on the theme and mood of your party. For a quiet dinner party, strobe lights might be a bad decision. For an upbeat dance party, maybe skip the candles and classical music.

Remember, music and lighting can go a long way in setting the feel of your party, and they usually work best when they complement each other.

Games and Activities:

Apart from having music and food, you want your party to have some kind of substance. Sure, you could organize activities on your own, but that might just feel like a repeat of your fifth birthday party. Instead, why not hire a team of professionals to do the entertainment for you?

When it comes to entertainment for hire, there’s a variety of options that you have, and again, it all depends on the type of party that you’re looking to have. For a dinner party where you intend for the guests to remain seated for the majority of the night, there’s a wide variety of stage performances available.

Consider having some kind of staged show or performers for the party. This can take the form of a circus show, dance show, magic performances, comedy shows, or even specialty shows catered to your theme. Hosting a 50’s themed Broadway party? Why not have a raunchy Broadway show to entertain your guests? Or perhaps you have lots of families coming? Hire a variety performer that can do everything from comedy, to juggling, to dancing and singing, and even guest involvement!

But what if you want your guests to be more active, and walk around the venue? They won’t be able to pay attention to a performance show in that case, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t provide them with entertainment.

Seated entertainment, carnival games, and casino games give your guests the ability to have some fun and get involved, all without a serious commitment of attention. With options like caricature artists, psychics, and airbrush tattoos, you can ensure that there’s fun to be had for kids and adults alike. If you want to give guests the chance to mingle a bit better, you can have entertainment that walks around all on its own! Impersonators, strolling magicians, greeters, Vegas showgirls, and even living décor are all options that can energize your guests, and give them something interesting to talk about.

Finally, remember to establish some rules for your guests, regardless of where you host your party. If it’s at your home, show everyone areas that are off limits, and put away anything that could be in danger of breaking. If you’re hosting at a venue, make sure that your guests understand the importance of keeping the area clean and being respectful. The last thing you want is a venue hounding you for damage fees.

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We have engaged Pop Events for our Children's Christmas party for the past several years and we have never been disappointed. The one stop shopping for all of our party needs is by far the best. Our company plays host to over 400 children who look forward to returning year after year. Continue Reading...

Lynda P

We had a great event and the kids LOVED their gifts from Santa. As I wrote to Leigh before the party, and due to the excellent service and no stress on my part, please book us for next year – Saturday, December 7.
In past years we have used another company to supply our presents and I found this year to be a delightful improvement over the other company. The wrapping was much nicer a... Continue Reading...

Tanya

The Children’s Party we held on Dec. 9 was terrific. We’ve received many positive comments for happy parents. All personnel, the Glitter Tattoo Artists, DJ and Dance instructors, did a wonderful job! We appreciate being able to do all this with one company and are very satisfied with how it all went. You have been very accommodating and we do appreciate it.
Thanks again for all you e... Continue Reading...

Marg

On behalf of the Social Committee we want to thank you for a truly wonderful event on Sunday, November 25th.
We have received so many compliments from the employees and their families. They said it was our best event ever!
The DJ and the girls kept the kids (and parents) moving! Everyone loved the stuffed animal craft and the ornament! We were a little worried as we were not ... Continue Reading...

Susan

I just wanted to write to thank you and POP for assisting us with our children's holiday party!! Your entire team was terrific but I'd like to let you know that Angela was absolutely fantastic.
She had all of the craft stations (and my team) up and running in no time and kept us running smoothly the entire party with a great attitude and charming personality! Continue Reading...

Lisa

We had our party yesterday and, once again, I have to thank you so much for the wonderful toys. Your selections were fantastic and everyone was so happy with their gifts. It was very thoughtful of you to include the bags. Every parent with a gift, treat bag, crayons, etc. appreciated them so much! Continue Reading...

Stephanie

We received the toys in good order and all accounted for. Thank you so much. I was impressed that forethought was put into the packaging to allow for cutting the tape open without damaging the wrapping – nicely done!
Thanks again! Continue Reading...

Rhonda

I just wanted to drop you a line and thank you SO much for your services with regards to our party.
It was a great success. All the gifts were wrapped beautifully as always, and everything that we ordered was delivered as promised……even our add ons! Continue Reading...

Joanne

Thank you so much for organizing the gifts, the cotton candy/popcorn, the crafts and especially the Santa. I cannot count how many people have mentioned what a first class, truly "believable" Santa he was. Hold on to his number!!!! The gifts have also been very well received - numerous positive comments. The crafts were a nice touch this year - people were quite pleased with the idea. I do n... Continue Reading...

Andrew

The feedback from this party was phenomenal! It was the best party we’ve had to date and that came from all the staff. Your suggestions were great, everything was just awesome. The DJ was a HUGE hit and we had some guests who just didn't want to leave! Everything, the Build-a-Bear, the caricaturist, the tattoo artists everyone was great and everybody had a wonderful time. They all can't wait... Continue Reading...

Debbie

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Pop! Events Group was established in 2005. We specialize in gift wrapped toys, prizes and giveaways, Corporate Children’s Holiday Parties, Company Christmas Parties, Summer Picnics and Team Building Events in Toronto and the GTA. We pride ourselves in delivering exceptional service to our clients and producing engaging and memorable events for corporate employees and their families.